Red Wings Hall of Famer Don Baylor dies at 68

by WHAM

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 1982, file photo, California Angels' Don Baylor swings away during the sixth inning in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, in Anaheim, Calif. Don Baylor, the 1979 AL MVP with the California Angels who went on to become manager of the year with the Colorado Rockies in 1995, has died. He was 68. Baylor died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at a hospital in Austin, Texas, his son, Don Baylor Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman. (AP Photo/File)

Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) - Rochester Red Wings International League and Red Wings Hall of Famer Don Baylor has died at age 68.

Baylor was one of the best players in the Red Wings Franchise, and part of one of the best teams in Red Wings history, Joe Altobelli’s 1971 Red Wings Junior World Series Champions. That year he led the team with 31 doubles, 95 RBI and 25 stolen bases.

Baylor spent parts of 3 seasons in Rochester, earning post-season All Star honors in both 1970 and 1971. He was also named the Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year in 1970 and was named to the Red Wings All-Century team in 2000.

The former second round pick by Baltimore in 1967 played 19 seasons in the major leagues with the Orioles, Athletics, Angels, Yankees, Red Sox and Twins. He was the original manager of the expansion Colorado Rockies from 1993-98 before joining the Chicago Cubs in the same role from 2000 to 2002.

“Don was obviously a phenomenal player but off the field was even a better person who always had a soft spot in his heart for Rochester, Alto, our fans and his teammates” Red Wing General Manager Don Mason says.